Free to roam - where in SE England has decent state schools that we might have a chance of getting into?

[josamosa]

Same old, same old....all out of dosh, having to sell up and take kids out of schools.Glad really, tired of hanging in there, just want to settle down somewhere now. BUT - where? We are in Central London -are there any decent state schools that are not full? Called loads without luck. Ditto Home Counties. Happy to move anywhere - anyone out there know of an area with a decent prospect of a place (Y2, 5, 8 in September 2011)?

One of those Cambridge villages?

There are nothing but good or excellent schools where I live in North Oxfordshire. Property is a bit pricey though. But if you don't mind moving to the back end of nowhere your kids will get a decent state education.

redbridge? you can get yr 5 to do 11+ as well?

We live in Essex and we are in a part where luckily all the secondaries are great and have good reputations and are not difficult to get into.

Primaries are also good, there's one locally that's always had a bad reputation, but due to the amount of places available at other schools, it's pretty much empty, which is sad really.

From my house, out of the nearest 4 secondaries, I would happily send my DC's to any of them and would easily have got places at at least 3.

The next borough has a couple of grammar schools and although these are fab, the comps are mostly dire so that's probably something to look out for if you look at a grammar area.

In fact, next doot is for sale

Sorry to hear about your situation though, sounds stressful

west kent? we have the 11+ but the church schools are very good if you're not 11+ material.

Hi - just moving to just north of Cambridge - I rang the local authority -the schools wouldn't say - and they told me which schools had places - but you need to be carefull where in Cambridgshire as some places are pretty expensive, also need a tenancy agreement before you can apply

Where do you live in Essex, verybored? It sounds good!

I live in Essex too and could say the same as verybored, word for word, I'm in south essex

South East Essex, not Southend - that's the next borough with the grammars but mostly dire comps!

All the local towns, other than Southend have mostly good schools.

verybored, Southend is the next borough to me, thought it sounded like Southend you were describing!

Lived there til a few years ago and was so pleased to move before ds's started secondary!

Hampshire
Dorset
Wiltshire
Somerset
Gloucestershire
anywhere without a red dot on here

Thanks to all you MN's, this helps.

Don't think church schools are an option if proof of worship is needed; grammar entrance exams maybe but the eldest is of the male persuasion thus strong on the maths/science/sport, but not your classic academic.

Really, after all the trauma of the last year or so I don't think I could go wrong with a good, old fashioned village school/local academy.

I have to consider that DH will still have the occasional commute to London so somewhere with a train station would be ideal.

I like the sound of South East Essex - near the coast would be great - and also North Oxfordshire might work as my family are in the West Country but thats just a bit too far.

Is anyone prepared to PM name a town/school?

To verybored - It went beyond stressful. Without sounding too New Age its been quite a transformative process (YOU DONT SAY!), liberating. Strips you back to the core and to what matters, and who you are...lucky for me what I was left holding when all the layers fell off feels okay.

I've pm'ed you. My DH also commutes to London, 55 mins from us on the train

Bucks has got the grammar school system if that appeals to you.

Northants has some good schools and good rail links into London (ironically better from the northern areas like Corby / Kettering than Norhtampton itself)

Good school but religious

Outstanding boys schoool

*school even

Thanks CC.

The schools in the villages round Cambridge are generally very good, and you can commute to London pretty easily. I have heard that Comberton Village College might be full, though, and that some children are being bused to St Ives instead.